Electric compressor for vehicle, and method for manufacturing electric compressor for vehicle

Abstract

An electric compressor for a vehicle includes a compressor case, an inverter circuit, an inverter case, and a lid that closes an opening of the inverter case. The electric compressor further includes a seal component interposed between the inverter case and the lid to seal between the inverter case and the lid. The electric compressor further includes a conductive component. The conductive component transmits an electromagnetic wave noise from the inverter case to at least one of the compressor case and the lid, the electromagnetic wave noise propagating from the inverter circuit to the inverter case when the inverter circuit provides the electric current through the electric motor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electric compressor for a vehicle comprising:
 a compressor case made of a conductive metal material and having a pipe shape, the compressor case housing a compression mechanism which draws, compresses and discharges refrigerant, and an electric motor which drives the compression mechanism; 
 an inverter circuit that drives the electric motor with electric current; 
 an inverter case made of a conductive metal material and arranged on one side of the compressor case in an axial direction, the inverter case having a storage part that houses the inverter circuit and an opening open on one side in the axial direction; 
 a lid made of a conductive metal material, the lid closing the opening of the inverter case; 
 a seal component interposed between the inverter case and the lid to seal a gap between the inverter case and the lid; and 
 a conductive component which transmits an electromagnetic wave noise, that is propagating from the inverter circuit to the inverter case when the inverter circuit provides the electric current flowing through the electric motor, from the inverter case to at least one of the compressor case and the lid 
 wherein, 
 the seal component is made of material having electrical insulation properties, and has a ring shape surrounding the opening, 
 the conductive component has a ring shape surrounding the opening, and is arranged at an inner side or an outer side of the seal component to achieve electrical connection between the inverter case and the lid, 
 the seal component is joined to the conductive component, and 
 the electromagnetic wave noise from the inverter case is transmitted from the conductive component to the lid. 
 
     
     
       2. The electric compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the inverter case has an inlet port through which refrigerant flows in, and a refrigerant channel that introduces the refrigerant from the inlet port into the compressor case, the inverter circuit being cooled with the refrigerant in the refrigerant channel, 
 the electric compressor further comprising: 
 a gasket interposed between the inverter case and the compressor case to seal a gap between the inverter case and the compressor case, the gasket having a channel through which the refrigerant flows from the refrigerant channel of the inverter case into the compressor case; and 
 a joint bolt that fixes the lid, the seal component, the inverter case, and the gasket to the compressor case. 
 
     
     
       3. A method for manufacturing the electric compressor according to  claim 1 , the electric compressor further including:
 a gasket having
 the seal component interposed between the inverter case and the lid to seal the gap between the inverter case and the lid, and 
 the conductive component made of a conductive metal material and arranged between the inverter case and the lid; and 
 
 a joint bolt that fixes the lid, the gasket, and the inverter case to the compressor case, 
 the method for manufacturing the electric compressor comprising: 
 preparing the lid, the gasket, the inverter case, the joint bolt, and the compressor case, and 
 fixing the lid, the gasket, and the inverter case to the compressor case with the joint bolt such that the conductive component and the inverter case are in contact with each other and that the conductive component and the lid are in contact with each other. 
 
     
     
       4. The electric compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein a gasket is integrally formed with the seal component and the conductive component, and
 the gasket is pressed between the lid and the inverter case. 
 
     
     
       5. The electric compressor according to  claim 4 , wherein a joint bolt fixes the gasket and the inverter case to the compressor case, and
 the joint bolt passes through a through hole defined at the conductive component. 
 
     
     
       6. The electric compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the seal component has no through hole for a joint bolt passing through the lid, the conductive component and the inverter case. 
     
     
       7. The electric compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the seal component is integrally formed with the conductive component. 
     
     
       8. The electric compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductive component has a circumferential ring shape entirely surrounding the opening.